The General Auto Insurance Review

The General auto insurance sells insurance products on behalf of a few different companies. While lacking a BBB rating, the provider has an A- with A.M. Best. The General is known for its claim of $39 monthly auto insurance rates.

You’ve probably seen a few million of their silly television commercials featuring a cute little animated army general. And you may be wondering what exactly they’re all about and have asked, “Is General Auto Insurance any good?” or “Should I choose them for the car insurance liability coverage limits?”

Or you noticed that Shaquille O’Neal got on board to help pitch car insurance quotes to consumers alongside Icy Hot products.

You may be especially interested in their claim of $39 monthly The General auto insurance rates, which certainly sounds like some of the cheapest car insurance around. Additionally, you may have asked, “Why does The General redirect me to Progressive?” More on that in a minute.

Before you start reading our The General auto insurance company review, enter your ZIP code into the quote box here to get a free quote so that you can compare auto insurance rates.

Who is The General Auto Insurance Services Inc.?

• It’s actually an insurance agency
• They sell products on behalf of several different companies
• To individuals directly via phone and online
• They specialize in car insurance

Spoiler alert! The General is actually an insurance agency, not just a cartoon character with a great handlebar mustache. What this means is that they are licensed in certain states to solicit and sell insurance to individuals at the retail level.

Similar to an independent insurance agent on almost any street corner in the country, The General sells insurance products on behalf of a few different companies.

Read more: Auto Insurance Checklist: What to Ask Your Agent

The General is a subsidiary of (which means they are owned by) PGC Holdings Corporation (PGC), and they offer insurance online or by phone from Permanent General Assurance Corporation, Permanent General Assurance Corporation of Ohio (you may be able to find Permanent General Assurance Corporation reviews) and The General Automobile Insurance Company Inc.

The General is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. The company provides car insurance for high-risk drivers and can issue SR-22 forms in most states. Drivers who have a poor driving record, moving violations, accidents, or insurance lapses might find affordable rates from the General.

For the record, these insurance companies have financial strength ratings of A (“Excellent”), per A.M. Best, but oddly enough The General doesn’t have a BBB rating because it’s not accredited. They are under no obligation to pay for a BBB rating, so it’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

Auto Home Health Life Business Motorcycle Pet Medicare Rental

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Who owns The General insurance?

Does progressive own The General? No. In early 2013, they were acquired by American Family Insurance, making them an even bigger play in the insurance space. The General also got a makeover in the process, including what appears to be an iPhone as opposed to his old flip phone to coincide with the launch of the company’s mobile app.

This setup is not unlike Progressive and Geico, which are both insurance companies and also insurance agencies, allowing them to make money by selling other insurers’ products, most notably, homeowners insurance.

If you have a Progressive or Geico homeowners insurance policy, it is actually underwritten by a different company. Progressive and Geico simply earn a commission for passing you on to the home insurance companies.

Read more: Progressive Insurance Review

So you no longer have to wonder about The General and Progressive insurance’s relationship. We can think of The General as the advertising vessel for the aforementioned auto insurance companies, which clearly don’t sound as cool. Let’s face it; it’s a lot easier to market car insurance or get someone to fill out an auto insurance quote via The General than from Permanent General Assurance Corporation of Ohio.

The General Insurance Progressive

So, “why does The General redirect me to Progressive?” Since The General has ads for other insurance types like motorcycles and renters, you will be redirected to the respective company websites offering those particular services/products.

Read more: Progressive Motorcycle Insurance Review

The General Insurance: Areas Served and Specialties

• The General specializes in non-standard auto insurance
• Which is geared toward drivers with auto insurance claim history
• Or poor driving history
• Who may have trouble obtaining coverage via traditional channels

You may have heard the commercial where they say, “Whether you need minimum required limits or higher?” That’s a pretty good hint that TheGeneral Auto specializes in non-standard auto insurance.  This type of insurer offers coverage to those of us who do not “fit” the standard or preferred automobile insurance markets for various reasons, including some of the following:

1. Newly licensed drivers – Without a driving history to judge you on, some insurers aren’t willing to take a risk on you. Think of all the 16-year olds, who can certainly be classified as a high-risk drivers.

2. Unfavorable driving records or MVR – You are likely a non-standard auto insurance candidate if you have racked up a few tickets within a certain time frame (usually between 3-5 years). Having just one DUI will likely force you to seek coverage in the non-standard market. (For more information, read our “How much does insurance go up after a ticket?“).

3. Unfavorable C.L.U.E. Report – Like how your MVR keeps track of your driving violations, your C.L.U.E. report tracks your insurance claims. Non-standard insurers specialize in offering coverage to those of us with multiple claims within a 3-5 year time frame.

4. Lapsed Coverage – You will probably need to find a non-standard insurer if you are unable to maintain coverage consistently. Perhaps your coverage has lapsed for non-payment more than once in the past six months.

5. Bad credit or low down payment – You may also be giving The General a jingle because you’ve got bad credit and/or little set aside in your checking accounts. They offer monthly payment plans, along with six and 12-month policies.

And yes, you can pay with a credit card, including Amex, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa.

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

Auto Home Health Life Business Motorcycle Pet Medicare Rental

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Is The General car insurance good?

The General insurance reviews indicate the following:

• They offer similar coverage options to those of standard insurers
• But allow high-risk drivers to get approved for coverage as well
• Car insurance rates may be higher because of claims history
• Though you should still be able to get what you need if you can afford it

You can certainly expect to pay more for your car insurance coverage with any non-standard insurer, and The General is no exception. So whether you get “cheap car insurance” or not is really relative, based on how cheap you could get it elsewhere with a checkered driving history.

This DOES NOT mean you cannot get all of the coverage you need. The same basic coverage is available from almost any other insurance provider, such as Geico Insurance or Liberty Mutual.

How much you pay is the only difference. You will have the option to purchase any of the following coverage types:

1. Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability – this is the state mandatory coverage, also referred to as liability only. Their quotes include the minimum requirements for car insurance to drive legally in the state, which is liability insurance. Some states require additional coverage such as personal injury protection or uninsured motorist coverage.

2. Physical Damage Coverage – this includes collision coverage and other than collision coverage, also known as comprehensive coverage.

You may require this if you have a loan on your ride, if you’re leasing it, or if it’s simply valuable enough to insure against damage that’s not caused by another driver.

3. Uninsured and Undersinsured Motorist Coverage – This is the coverage that protects you against drivers who either have no insurance, insufficient liability limits, or hit-and-run scenarios.

4. Personal Injury Protection and Medical Payments – These are “no-fault” coverage types that provide monetary compensation for injured people, regardless of whose “fault” an accident was.

What about the $39 auto insurance coverage The General promises?

• Like all businesses that advertise prices
• You have to comb through the fine print
• The deals often sound better than they actually are
• The General’s auto insurance rates will depend on coverage and your driving history

While The General could not legally advertise this number unless it was within the realm of possibility, you may be better off assuming you will pay more than that for your automobile insurance each month.

This is especially true now that Shaquille O’Neal is on the payroll. Of course, he might come cheaper than LeBron…

This line of thinking will keep you from getting frustrated or disappointed when you find out YOUR policy costs more.

Just like every other type of advertising you see on television, you’re being told about the absolute cheapest policy their organization has, but only one-in-a-million people qualify for that rate.

Hey, if it gets you to their website (gogeneral.com auto insurance is not where to visit), they consider it a “win.”

But it’s best to obtain insurance quotes online from numerous different insurance companies to ensure you get the best deal available. There are thousands of insurers out there competing for your insurance premium dollar…and every one of them has different rates.

The General may be a good place to start for your auto insurance needs if you find yourself in the non-standard market, but make sure it’s not the only place you go.

Spending just five more minutes obtaining multiple quotes could save you some serious dollars in the long run.

What The General auto insurance discounts are available?

• They’re not big on discounts since high-risk drivers are their target market
• Seem to focus more on the ability to offer you coverage in the first place
• But you can get a cheaper policy if you pay in full
• Or quarterly in some states

Seeing that they’re already a low-cost insurance provider that caters to the high-risk driver, they don’t offer many insurance discounts as the other major insurers do.

However, you can get a discount if you pay your 12-month or 6-month policy in full. Additionally, The General offers discounts if you choose to pay quarterly in some states.

Moreover, the General offers discounts for homeowners, good students, driver training, military (Louisiana only), and if you had insurance with another company in the past 6 months and then transferred to the General.

They also claim to offer an instant auto insurance quote that can be generated in less than two minutes. Sounds really fast.

Oh, and you can get instant proof of insurance once you’re insured with The General, along with an insurance card. Sweet!

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

Auto Home Health Life Business Motorcycle Pet Medicare Rental

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Does The General offer term life insurance?

• They also offer term life insurance
• Via American Family Life Insurance
• So you can get life insurance quotes while you’re at it
• But be sure to compare insurance rates with other companies to ensure you get a low rate and appropriate coverage

Thanks to that link up with American Family, you can now obtain life insurance from The General.

Specifically, it’s called American Family Life Insurance from The General. That’s a mouthful, but at least they’re being honest about it and making it very clear where it comes from. It’s also worth mentioning that it’s administered by a company called Homesite.

It’s a term life insurance policy, which some would argue is the only type of life insurance worth buying.

Aside from that, they don’t offer any other types of insurance, despite their website giving you the option to receive The General auto insurance quotes for anything from renters insurance to motorcycle insurance and RV insurance. (For more information, read our “How Much Is Motorcycle Insurance?“)

Once you enter your ZIP code, it’ll just redirect you to other insurance companies like Progressive that actually offer those insurance types. Ultimately, they figure they might as well earn some commission if they can’t offer you a policy, so there’s a good chance they get a referral fee.

Don’t hesitate! If you want affordable The General auto insurance, or if you want to get free auto insurance quotes from some of the best providers in your area today, enter your ZIP code below to get started.

Claims Process With The General Auto Insurance: A Seamless Experience

Ease of Filing a Claim

The claims process with The General Auto Insurance is designed to be accessible and straightforward for policyholders. Claimants have the option to file a claim through various channels, including online, over the phone, and through mobile apps. This multi-channel approach ensures that customers can choose the method that is most convenient for them.

Average Claim Processing Time

The General Auto Insurance aims to streamline the claims processing time to provide quick and efficient service to its customers. While specific processing times may vary based on the nature and complexity of the claim, the company is committed to handling claims promptly and keeping customers informed throughout the process.

Customer Feedback on Claim Resolutions and Payouts

Customer feedback on claim resolutions and payouts with The General Auto Insurance is essential in evaluating the company’s claims handling efficiency and customer satisfaction. The company values customer input and continually strives to improve its claims process based on feedback received, aiming to ensure fair and satisfactory claim resolutions for its policyholders.

Mobile App Features and Functionality

The General Auto Insurance offers a user-friendly mobile app that provides policyholders with a range of features and functionalities. These may include the ability to view policy details, make payments, report accidents, and file claims directly through the app. The app enhances convenience and accessibility for customers, allowing them to manage their policies and claims on the go.

Online Account Management Capabilities

The General Auto Insurance offers robust online account management capabilities through its website. Policyholders can log into their accounts to access and manage policy information, view billing details, make payments, and update personal information.

The online portal provides a convenient platform for customers to have control over their policies and stay informed about their coverage.

Digital Tools and Resources

In addition to the mobile app and online account management, The General Auto Insurance provides digital tools and resources to assist customers in understanding their insurance coverage better. These tools may include educational materials, FAQ sections, and calculators that help customers make informed decisions regarding their policies.

The company is dedicated to leveraging technology to enhance the overall customer experience.

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

Auto Home Health Life Business Motorcycle Pet Medicare Rental

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption